Game device



Feb. 18, 1969 J. A. WEISBECKER 3,423,324

GAME DEVICE Filed March 29, 1967 Sheet of 2 v i Q I 1. r ow 22 4w v M'VE/Yfd/P. JOSEPH A. wznssscxsa 0 Y Y .4 a m A TTORA/E X Feb. 18, 1969 J, w CK 3,428,324

GAME DEVICE Filed March 29, 1967 Sheet 2 of i f W/vvvvvvV/ /WWW! I W 0 P 2 WAVW W a JOSEPH A. WEISBECKER f 7 4g 4; W K M A TTQRA/EY.

United States Patent 3,428,324 GAME DEVICE Joseph A. Weisbecker, 1220 Wayne Ave., Erlton, Cherry Hill, NJ. 08034 Filed Mar. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 626,738 US. Cl. 273-153 Int. Cl. A63f 9/06; G09c 27/00 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The structure of the instant device is similar in some respects to manual counters of the prior art, but includes novel elements defining a new combination and arrangement capable of use in the play of a game of the type sometimes called Nim, wherein each player adds one or two digits attempting to end the game at a predetermined number, usually a multiple of three.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an extremely simple structure which is compact to occupy relatively little space for carrying on the person of a user, and which is capable of providing game play of the type described, between a player and the game device itself.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a game device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, while being durable and reliable throughout a long useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing a game device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and illustrating a starting condition of game play;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating a slightly later stage of game play; and

FIGURE 5 is another sectional view similar to FIG- URES 3 and 4, but illustrating still another slightly later stage in play of the game.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, the game device is shown in FIGURE 1 and there generally designated 10, including a generally rectangular casing or housing 11. The housing or casing 11 includes a pair of generally rectangular front and back walls 12 and 13 arranged in facing spaced relation, with a pair of side walls 14 and ice 15 each between an adjacent pair of side edges of the front and back walls, and a pair of bottom and top walls 16 and 17 respectively located between the lower and upper edges of the front and back walls. In the illustrated embodiment, the back wall 13, the side walls 14 and 15, and the lower and upper walls 16 and 17 may be formed integrally, as by molding of plastic, or the like, while the front wall 12 may be a separate sheet or plate secured in closing relation over the back, side, bottom and top walls. Of course, other specific structure of housing 11 may be provided, if desired.

The back wall 13 is provided, generally centrally thereof, with a forwardly extending pin or pintle 20, terminating just short of the front wall 12, as seen in FIGURE 2. Laterally medially of the front wall 12, spaced above the pin 20, the front wall may be provided with a thru aperture or display window 21. The side wall 14, at a lower region thereof adjacent to the bottom wall 16, is formed with a thru opening 22, while the top wall 17, spaced medially between the side walls 14 and 15, is formed with a similar thru opening 23.

Centrally interiorly of the casing 11 there is mounted a rotary movable member or wheel 25 provided with a central opening 26 slidably receiving the pin 20. Thus, the wheel 25 is axially mounted for rotation on the pin 20. Formed on the periphery of the wheel 25, adjacent to the rear side of the wheel, there is an annular array or series of ratchet teeth 27. The ratchet teeth 27 may be of conventional triangulate configuration, and are regularly spaced or arranged about the periphery of the ratchet wheel 25 in the usual manner. Adjacent to the front side or surface of wheel 25, on the periphery thereof, is an additional series of ratchet teeth 28, each of which may be of substantially identical configuration with a tooth 27, and defined by a forward extension thereof. However, the forward series of ratchet teeth 28 are not arranged with the same regularity. Rather, the series of ratchet teeth 28 are interrupted in a predetermined manner, leaving spaces therebetween.

Also carried by the ratchet wheel 25, on the front side thereof, is an annular array of numerical indicia, concentric with the wheel. As illustrated, the numerical indicia may include 0 to 9, occupying approximately onehalf the annular array, and repeated on the other half thereof. The numerical indicia are located at a radius for visual exposure or presentation through the window 21 of a single number, the number 0 being in position for exposure through the window 21 in FIGURES 1-3.

Mounted in an upper region of the housing 11, over the wheel 25, is a plunger 30. The plunger 30 may be of generally rectangular configuration and constrained to vertical or up-and-down movement, as between parallel spaced, generally vertical surfaces 31 and 32. A stem or shank 33 projects upwardly from the plunger 30 slidably through the top-wall opening 23, and may have a knob or enlarged head 34 on its upper end. Depending from the underside of the plunger 30 is a resiliently flexible arm or pawl 35, generally coplanar with the complete, regularly arranged rearward series of teeth 27. The arm or pawl 35 has its lower free end abuttingly engageable with the teeth 27, and is vertically reciprocable a single tooth distance or pitch for effecting rotative movement of the wheel 25 a single tooth distance.

A generally U-shaped resilient member 37 may be anchored interiorly of the housing 11, as by an anchoring member 38, having one leg 39 extending into resilient bearing engagement with the underside of plunger 30 to urge the latter to its uppermost position engaging the underside of top wall 17. The other leg or arm 40 of U- shaped member 37 has its free end extending toward and engageable with the series of teeth 27, being configured to ride over the teeth upon wheel movement in one direction, clockwise as seen in FIGURE 3, while abutting against a tooth 27 and restraining wheel movement in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, the wheel is held against counterclockwise or reverse rotation upon upward retraction or withdrawal of the plunger 30 and arm 35.

An additional plunger 42 is located adjacent to the bottom wall 16 for lateral movement therealong, and a stem or shank 43 extends from plunger 42 laterally slidably outwardly through sidewall opening 22, having on its outer end an enlarged head or button 44. The plunger 42 is constrained to generally horizontal movement between the bottom wall 16 and a fixed guide 45 spaced above the bottom Wall; and, suitable resilient means, such as a coil compression spring 46 may be employed to urge the plunger 42 outward or rightward as seen in FIGURE 3. The spring 46 may be interposed between the plunger 42 and the opposite side wall 15.

Carried on the upper side of plunger 42 is a resiliently flexible arm or pawl 47 extending laterally generally toward and tangential to the wheel 25, for engagement with the ratchet teeth thereof. More specifically, the arm or pawl 47 is located in the plane of the forward series of teeth 28 for end abutment therewith upon lateral inward movement of plunger 42, and riding over of the teeth upon lateral outward movement of the plunger. The length of shank 43 is sufficient to move the plunger 42 and arm 47 a predetermined number of tooth spaces, in the instant embodiment moving two tooth spaces or double the tooth pitch of the rearward, complete tooth series 27. Thus, it will be apparent that, beginning in the condition illustrated in FIGURE 3, full inward shifting movement of button 44 will effect two-tooth movement of the wheel 25, as the arm 47 is located proximate to a forward, tooth 28. However, were the arm 47 located in an interrupted space between teeth 28, movement of plunger 42 would effect single-space wheel movement or no wheel movement at all.

It will now be apparent that the plunger 30 and its arm cooperate with the complete series of rear teeth 27 to define an operating mechanism for effecting stepwise movement of the movable member or wheel 25 about its closed path, while the plunger 42 and its arm 47 combine with the interrupted, forward series of teeth 28 to define a second operating mechanism for effecting wheel movement about its closed path in a stepped relation. However, the operating mechanism of plunger 30, arm 35 and teeth 27 effects single stepwise movement of the wheel 25 through each of its positions of movement. The operating mechanism of plunger 42, arm 47 and tooth series 28 effects a different stepwise movement of wheel 25, depending upon the position of the wheel, and specifically upon the position of a tooth 28 relative to the arm 47.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, which is for purposes of illustration and without limiting intent, the game device 10 is adapted for use in play of the game Nim, wherein a single player may play against the game device 10. Further, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment a demonstrating player may demonstrate the operation and win against the game, whereas a novice player cannot win against the game.

For example, if a player is allowed his selection of one or two depressions of the actuating member or button 34, and the game is entitled to only a single depression of actuating member or button 44, the player and game taking alternate turns, the winner is the one after Whose turn the numeral indicia 9 is exposed. If the player depresses his button 34 either once or twice, the pawl 47 will then be located between teeth E and C, so that depression of the game button 44 will effect total wheel movement three steps or teeth of tooth series 27. The numeral indicia 3 will then appear through the window 21. Again, if the player depresses his button 34 either once or twice, the next turn of the game to depress its button 44 will effect another total of three-steps wheel movement to locate the numeral indicia 6 at the window 21. Upon the next turn, no matter whether the player depresses his button 34 once or twice, it will be apparent that the depression of game buton 44 will effect a respective twoor one-step movement to win the game by exposing numeral indicia 9.

To continue play, the player button 34 is depressed once to place the numeral 0 in the window 21, which is the numeral 0 at the bottom of the indicia array in FIGURE 3, and play continued as described hereinbefore. In this cycle of play, it is possible for the player to win or beat the game 10. This may be accomplished by the player making a single depression of the button 34 upon his third turn. Thus, a demonstrator player may use the game device 10 for alternate games to illustrate that the game may be beaten, while an unknowing novice cannot win the remaining games. Of course, variations in the number and location of teeth 27 and 28 may be made without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a game device which is well adapted to amuse and bafile participants, and otherwise fully accomplish its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game construction, a movable member movable in one direction in stepped relation through a series of positions, indicia means indicating the positions of movement of said movable member, a first operating mechanism operatively connected to said movable member to effect movement thereof in said one direction through each step of said series of positions, a second operating mechanism operatively connected to said movable membet to effect movement thereof in said one direction through a predetermined number of said steps according to the position of said member, and independent actuating means associated with each of said operating mechanisms for independently actuating the same.

2. A game construction according to claim 1, in combination with mounting means mounting said movable member for movement about a closed path.

3. A game construction according to claim 2, said operating mechanisms each including one-way drive means for moving said movable member in said one direction about said closed path.

4. A game construction according to claim 3, said movable member comprising a rotary wheel, and said indicia means comprising an annular array of markings on said wheel concentric therewith.

5. A game construction according to claim 4, said one-way drive means each including a specifically arranged series of teeth on said wheel, and a shiftable pawl engageable with the respective series of teeth to move the Wheel in accordance with the tooth arrangement.

6. A game construction according to claim 5, the tooth series of said first operating mechanism corresponding in number to the steps of movement of said wheel, the pawl of said first operating mechanism being shiftable to move the wheel in single steps through said series of positions, the tooth series of said second operating mechanisms being different in number from the steps of movement of said wheel, and the pawl of said second operating mechanism being shiftable to move the wheel in single and multiple steps through said series of positions.

7. A game construction according to claim 6, the second-operating-mechanism teeth being arranged relative to the first-operating-mechanism teeth so that wheel movement through a predetermined number of steps is effected by actuation of said first operating mechanism a selected number of times and subsequent actuation of said second operating mechanism a single time.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1892 Goodson 273-153 1/1926 Sweeney 235122 X Beskow 235-122 Condon et a1. 235--1 X Prentice 273-138 ORourke 273138 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

